By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko never trailed but required a strong finish to break a late tie and edge out Aliaga Petkim Spor, 101-96, Thursday.
Team captain Melih Mahmutoglu scored his only points in the Round 28 fixture of Turkey’s BSL Regular Season with the go-ahead triple, after the visitors knotted the game at 90-90. Johnathan Motley, Carsen Edwards, and Nigel Hayes-Davis combined for the remaining 20 points scored in the fourth quarter.
Motley ended up with 24 points shooting 11/12 from the field to go with five rebounds and five assists. Hayes-Davis recorded 21 points and Edwards added 20 points. Besides Metecan Birsen (knee), Nemanja Bjelica (calf), and Devin Booker (knee), Greek head coach Dimitris Itoudis additionally ruled out Marko Guduric, Tyler Dorsey, Nick Calathes, and Kostas Antetokounmpo.
Canadian point guard Kenny Chery connecting 9/14 field goals registered a game-high 27 points in the losing effort. His side falling to 12-17 put the brakes on the late push for a playoff berth.
From jumping to 23-6 and securing the second seed in the postseason bracket behind top-seeded Turk Telekom, Fener will wrap up the double-legged round-robin regular-season schedule with Frutti Extra Bursaspor visiting the Ulker Sports and Event Hall on Monday.
In the hunt for the third seed, Anadolu Efes can end up third with a potential away win against Yukatel Merkezefendi Sunday. Otherwise, the team coached by Ergin Ataman can fall to fourth place, thus avoiding a potential Semifinals matchup opposite crosstown rival Fenerbahce.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net